Jail door operating and locking system



Feb. 7, 1939.

Filed Oct. 20, 1937 6 Sheets+Sheet l INVENT Harry J Ea/5/or7 BY ATTORNEY I 3. -mu n u a @LM. m a w v Q 1 w W Y1 Q\\ Feb; 7, 1939. H. J. RA-LSTON JKING SYSTEM JAIL DOOR OPERATING ANI J' LO 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 20, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 9 5 1 5 M W E 6 7 E w fl .n iliili'i.55: r t M a A q d g /5 a 0/ 7 5 1 u 1 z I w m z a w n a 4 0mm. H ID 1 Y Zr. 0/0 6 mJ M Z ,0 m R 2 .wflflgzfluuflz U n. n. mu 0 ll I q I E W E r n HI V f A. .il I a J/r I //////////4 D mm m 0 un NU w d I m y Feb. 7, 1939. I H. J; RALSTON JAIL DOOR OPERATING AND LOCKING SYSTF JM I F'iled Oct. '20, 1937 Feb. 7, 1939.

H. J. 'RALSTON JAIL DOOR OPERATING AND LOCKING SYSTEM Filed Oct. 20, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Feb. 7, 1939 PATENT OFFICE JAIL DOOR OPERATING AND LOCKING SYSTEM Harry J. Ralston, San Francisco, Calif. Application October 20, 1937, Serial No. 169,975

12 Claims.

This invention relates generally to systems and equipment for operatingand locking jail or prison doors, particularly where it is desired to operate the doors of a tier of cells by means of a master control mechanism.

It is an object of the invention to provide a system of the above character enabling full selective operation of jail doors. By full selective operation is meant the opening and closing of any one individual door, apart from the others, the opening and closing of any two or more of the doors as a group, to the exclusion of the others, or the opening and closing of all of the doors in unison.

A further object of the invention is to afford keyless locking with a full selective system of the type described above. In this connection my invention is characterized by locking means incorporated as an integral part of the selective operating system, whereby one or any number of doors can. be locked in either open or closed position and while other doors are'being opened and closed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a jail door system in which the various operations are carried out by directly operating mechanical parts, with the manual control levers or equivalent members mounted within a control cabinet.

Another object of the invention is to provide readily distinguishable means for indicating at all times the exact condition of all of the doors of the system, that is whether open and locked open, or closed and locked closed.

Another object of the invention is to provide -means to insure proper locking of all of the jail doors, before the door of the control cabinet is closed.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the following description in which the preferred embodiment of the invention has been set forth in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view, illustrating diagrammatically a lay-out for a tier of jail cells, in conjunction with a control cabinet.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational View of the jail cells indicated in Fig. 1, showing a series or row of sliding jail doors.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view, partly in cross-section, illustrating working parts disposed above the jail doors, and their connection to parts located in the control cabinet.

.Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional detail taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional detail, taken along taken along taken along taken along Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional detail, taken along y the line Il-ll of Fig. 3.

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional detail, taken along the line l2-l2 of Fig. 3. I

Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional detail, taken along the line |3-I3 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional detail, taken along the line |4l4 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a View similar to Fig. 14, but showing the parts in a different operating position.

Fig. 16 is a view similar to Fig. 14, but showing the parts in another operating position.

Fig. 17 is a side elevational detail, partly in cross-section, illustrating the vertically extending lock bar for each of the jail doors, and its associated operating means.

Fig. 18 is a side elevational view, illustrating the operating parts disposed above each jail door, and illustrating these parts positioned to lock the door in closed position. and to disconnect the same with respect to the master operating bar.

Fig. 19 is a view similar to Fig. 18, but showing the positioning of the parts when this particular door is selected for operation, and the "door is eiiectively engaged with the master operating bar;

Fig. 20 is a view similar to Fig. 18, but showin the position of the parts after the door has been moved to open position, but still engaged with respect to the master operating bar.

Fig. 21 shows the position of the parts corresponding to open position of the door, but locked in open position, and disengaged with respect to the master operating bar.

In general the present system makes use. of a plurality of levers or equivalent members disposed within a control cabinet. The sliding jail doors of a tier of cells are mechanically connected to the parts in the control cabinet, whereby all of the necessary operations, including opening and closing of the doors, and locking of the doors in both open and closed positions, can be performed by the operator at the cabinet. To

properly make use of the full selectivity afforded, at least three jail doors should be included in the system.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, I have shown a tier of cells A, B and C, provided with the sliding doors lla, Nib and we, and connected with parts located in the control cabinet ii. In typical installations the control cabinet M is located at one end of the corridor D.

Within the control cabinet l i, there is a master operating lever 52, movable between two operating positions, corresponding to open and closed positions of the doors. Also carried within the cabinet are the selecting levers llia, E32: and H30, which have three operating positions, and which control selecting and locking functions as will be presently described. The frame work of the cells is constructed to afford a compartment l6 (Fig. 9) extending above the doors. This compartment serves to house certain operating parts, including particularly the master control bar ii, and the selecting bars Ilia, 98b and 580. Bar H is guided for sliding movements in a horizontal direction, by the supporting brackets l9 and 29. That end of the bar it which terminates within the cabinet ll carries a roller 22, which in turn engages a pair of stationary parallel track bars The upper end of the master control lever I2 is also connected to the journal pin of roller 22, and the intermediate part of this lever is connected to retention links 26 (Figs. 3 and 10). Links 24 are carried by the stationary bracket 28', whereby upon swinging the master control lever i 2, the master control bar ii is slid horizontally above the jail doors, between its operating positions.

The various selecting bars iBa, [8b and I are likewise supported by the brackets 19 and 20. with spacers 28, between which the selecting bars are disposed, and that the bars rest upon rollers 29. The ends of the bars i811, 88b and i8c which extend within the control cabinet H, are individually connected to the bell cranks 3f, the connection being established by blocks 32 which are pivotally attached to the bars, and slots 33 in the bell cranks, within which these blocks slidably engage. Bell cranks 3i are in turn connected to the several selecting levers i3a, I31? and i150, by the links 3Q. It is convenient to enclose the links 34, and all but the handle portions of the selecting levers, within an inner casing 38. The front wall 3? of this casing is shown provided with slots 38 within which the selecting levers operate, and these slots are shown provided with notches i, 2 and 3,

within which the selecting levers spring into' engagement, and which correspond to the three operating positions of these parts. It will be apparent that for the different positions of the selecting levers, the selecting bars 58a, fill) and 180 will be moved to either one of three different positions, to perform their requisite functions.

Disposed within the side frame ii of each jail door, there is a vertically extending locking bar 42 (Figs. 3, 7' and 17). The upper end portion of each of these bars is forked and terminates within the compartment 85, and is there associated with a cooperating cam element 43. The lower end of each bar 42 is provided with a slot 44, to accommodate 2. lug it carried by the edge of the corresponding door. Lug 46 is provided with an inclined surface 471, engaged by a 00- both carried by bar i2.

Note that each of these brackets is provided operating inclined shoulder 48 on the bar 52. Thus when bar 42 is forced downwardly, as the parts are engaged in locked position as shown in Fig. 1'7, the free edge of the door is cammed against the associated door frame il. Lifting of lock bar 42 releases its engagement with respect to lug 45, so that the associated door can be opened.

The cam member G3 is movable in a horizontal direction between two operating positions, as will be presently explained. It is provided with two upper and lower inclined cam surfaces 5i and 52, which engage respectively a roller 53 and a pin 54, When the cam member 33 is moved to the right, as viewed in Fig. 17, roller 53 is cammed upwardly by inclined surface 5|, to raise bar 2, and move the same to unlocked position. Conversely when the cam member 33 is moved to the left, roller 53 is permitted to drop, and final movement of cam member 43 to the left causes surface 52 to force pin 54 downwardly, to force bar d2 downwardly against lug 6. Such forcible downward movement of bar 52 is of advantage to insure tight closure of the door, and to cam the door to final closed position. Cam member 43 is also provided with an inclined surface 5%, to afford an end 53 of reduced proportions. This is for the reason that in actual operation cam member 53 at times is entirely displaced with respect to bar 52 (see Fig. 20) and its end portion 57 must therefore be proportioned so as to re-engage between roller 53 and pin 54, as the corresponding door moves back towards closed position. It may be explained at this point that the means described above commences to establish a locking engagement between bar 42 and lug #36 before the door is 00111- pletely closed. Thus when the doors are slammed shut, there can be no rebound.

In order to minimize friction each of the doors is supported by a carriage 6!. In each instance the carriage consists of a pair of wheels 52 (Fig.

-3) which are journalled upon stud shafts, the

shafts in turn being mounted upon the plate 63 (Fig. 13) Plate 63 is connected to the upper edge of the corresponding door, by the hanger M. A slot 66 is formed in the lower wall 6? of compartment 56, in order to accommodate the bracket 64. The wheels or rollers 52 have grooved peripheries, and engage the fixed track rods i 5.

Upon the forward side of the plate 63, for each of the carriages, the stud shafts for the wheels 62 provide threaded extensions i2. Loosely engaged with the extensions i2, there is a thrust bar 13, one end of which is secured to or is integral with the cam member 43. Engagement of the thrust bar l2 with the carriage is such as to permit limited lost motion between these parts. As representative of such connection, the bar 13 is provided with slots it, to accommodate the threaded extensions 12, and these extensions are provided with heads or nuts 16, to retain the parts in assembled relationship. Motion is transmitted from the master control bar H, to each of the carriages 5 I through the thrust bars 73, and their associated arms 78 (Fig. 3). One end of each of these arms has a pivotal connection '85 with its associated thrust bar 73, while the other end carries a roller 8! (Figs. 13 to 16 inclusive). The roller .illustrated is provided with two portions a: and Big of different diameters. The stud upon which roller 8! is mounted is provided with an enlarged head 82. 7

It may be explained at this point that shifting movementsof each of the arms 78, serves to engage and disengage the same with respect to the master control bar I1. It also serves to maintain the arm I8 and the'carriage attached to the same, in 'fixed locked relationship, corresponding to either open or closed position of the door;

Such shifting movements are accomplished by cam slots carried by an associated cam bar. Thus bar I8a has a connection 86 with cam carrying bar 81a, the latter being slidably supported for movement in a horizontal direction, by the brackets I9 and 20.v Carried by the bar 810., are the blocks 88 and 89, which afford oppositely directed inclined cam slots 9| and 92 (see Figs. 18 to 21 inclusive). These slots are proportioned to accommodate the stud portion 82, on the corresponding arm I8. Extending along and secured to the rear wall 93 of the compartment I5, there is a structural angle forming a fixed shelf 94. This shelf is provided with the notches 96 and 91, properly dimensioned to accommodate the rollers 8Iz. The lower edge of the master control bar I! is provided with a plurality of notches, one notch for each door. Referring to the notch 98a for the first door Ia, it is proportioned to accommodate the reduced diameter 8Iy ofroller 8|, as illustrated in Figs. and 16. When so accommodated within notch 98a, the larger diameter 8 I x of roller 8|, may ride uponthe upper surface of shelf 94 (see Fig. 16).

The cam carrying bar 81a has three operating positions, corresponding to the three operating .positions of its selecting lever I311. The first operating position is illustrated in. Fig. 18, the second in Fig. 19, and the third in Fig. 20. When the corresponding door is closed, stud portion 82 occupies the cam slot-9|, and the roller 8| occupies'the slot 96 in shelf 94. Thus the master control bar may move, as in the operation of other doors, while arm I8 remains locked and the corresponding door IOa remains locked in closed position. In the second operating position, as illustrated in Fig. 19, movement of the cam carrying baram a short distance to the left, has caused roller 8| to be elevated to establish clutching relationship with the master control bar I'I; that is, the smaller diameter 8Iy of roller 8I is accommodated within the notch 98a. Now when the master control bar is moved to the right, such motion is transmitted first to the bar I3, without moving the carriage 6| or its associated door Illa. Such initial movement causes cam 43 to elevate the lock bar 42, with the result that the door is initially unlocked. Further movement of the master control bar I! causes the carriage 6| to be shifted to move the corresponding door I 9a to open position. Positioning of the arm I8 after such opening movement is illustrated in Fig. 20. Now as the cam carrying bar 810. is again shifted to the left, to its third operating position, stud 82 is engaged by the cam slot 92, thus causing roller 8I to be lowered into engagement with the second notch 91 (see Fig. 21). Thus the arm I8 is now locked in fixed position, as is also the associated door I0a. While shifting between open and closed positions the roller 8| rides upon the shelf 94.

In conjunction with the operating parts described above it is desirable to provide means to prevent certain false indications and improper operation, such as movement of a selecting lever to its third position when the door corresponding to the same is not open,- or movement of a selecting lever from its intermediate or second position, when the door corresponding to the same is partly open. This is accomplished by a r (Fig.

pair of latches IM and I02 for the cam bar 81a (and the other cam bars for the remainder of the doors). These latches are adapted'to engage shoulders [03x and I03y, and are adapted to be tripped by pins I04a: and I041 on the master bar I'I. Referring to Fig. 18, when cam bar 81a is in a position corresponding to the uppermost locked-closed position of the selecting lever I3a, and the master bar is in a position corresponding to close-d position of the door, pin I043: holds latch I0l raised, while latch I02 rides upon cam bar 81a- When the lever I3a is moved to its second or intermediate position shown in Fig. 19, latch IOI remains raised while latch I02 engages shoulder I 03y. When the master bar I1 is slid to the left to open the door, latch [0! .drops into engagement with shoulder I03x, so that during such opening movement the bar 81a is locked against movement in either direction. As the door is fully opened, pin I041} trip-s latchIOZ (Fig. 20) thus permitting movement of lever I3a and bar 81a to the third operating or looking position Thus when a door is closed or is being opened, lever I3a cannot be moved to this third or locked-open position to give a false indication. Similarly while a door is being closed, bar 81a cannot be moved to its first operating position, because of engagement of latch IIII with shoulder I031, thus avoiding a false indication, and preventing possible injury to the cam block 88.

The compartment I6 extending over the doors, is provided with front closures I05, by means of which one can have access to the operating parts for maintenance, repair or replacement. In order to preclude unauthorized opening of these closures, they are locked by means controlled by a lever within the cabinet II. Thus a hand lever I06 is p-ivotally mounted within the cabinet II and this lever carries an operating arm I07, pivotally connected to an auxiliary bar I08. At suitable intervals the 'bar I08 carries lock pins I09, adapted to engage within lugs III carried by the inner faces of the closures I05. Thus in one operating position of lever I06, all of the closures I05 are locked. However, upon shifting lever I06 pins I09 are retracted, thus permitting the closures I05 to be removed for servicing, repair or replacement.

Certain parts are associated with the control cabinet I I, to preclude closing of the doorof this cabinet except when the master control lever is in closed position. Thus when the master operating lever I2 is in fully closed position, it is. accommodated between a pair of tabs I I0 formed on the end of a standard I I2. These tabs are aperturedto receive a slidable rod H3, and the control lever also has a registering aperture II5, whereby for closed position of the lever, rod II3 can extend through the tabs H0 and the lever. The other end'of rod II3 pivotally connects with one end of the lever I I4, the latter having a ful- I crum connection II6 to one side of the cabinet. The door I I! of the cabinet has hinge mountings H8, and adjacent the axis of this hinge connection, the inner side of the door carries an arm H9. Arm I I9 carries a small roller I2I, adapted to operate in a slot H2 in the adjacent end of lever I I4. Rod I I3 is surrounded by a compression spring I 23, to urge the same towards retracted position. When the door II! is closed (Fig. 11) the position of lover I I4 is necessarily such that rod II3 must extend through the master operating lever I2. 'When the master operating lever is not in closed position, rod I I3 engages plunger I24 which is urged towards projected position between tabs III], by the compression spring I25. Thus the door III cannot be closed unless the master operating lever is properly in closed position.

Referring briefly to Fig. 1, it is customary for the corridor D to be provided with a door I28, which can be bolted by operation of a member disposed within the control cabinet I I. Thus extending vertically along one side of the control cabinet II there is a rock shaft I29 to which an operating lever I3I is secured. Shaft I29 is provided with arms I32, each having a slot I33. A plurality of slidably mounted bolts I34 are mounted within the cabinet in such a position that when projected, they look with the side member of the corridor door 528. Bolts I34 are urged towards locked position by the compression spring I37, and have pins I38 (Figs. to 12 inclusive) which engage with the slots I33. Thus rocking of lever I 3| serves to retract the bolts I34. Two of the bolts I34 are shown connected to thrust rods I39 extending across the back of the cabinet. On the other side of the cabinet these rods are connected to rock levers M! which have fulcrum mountings I42 to the side wall of the cabinet. Near the axis of the hinge connection I IS the door I I? is also provided with brackets 13, carrying set screws It l- When the door II? is swung towards closed position, set screws I44 engage rock levers I4I so that bolts I34 are dead locked while the cabinet door is closed.

It is desirable to mount the master control lever 62 in such a manner as to steady the same against lateral movement. Thus the upper portion of lever is shown disposed between the stationary guide members I46, which are fixed to convenient parts of the cabinet. The lower portion of these members is shown notched at I41 to accommodate the locking pawl M8, when the master control lever is in closed position. Pawl I48 is released by operation of the finger engaging lever M9, which in turn is associated with the grip ISI for the master operating lever. Members I46 also afford a curved segment I52, to retain the pawl I48 in retracted position until the master control lever is moved back to the position illustrated in Fig. 3.

It is to be understood that each of the doors Illa, I61) and I Go is provided with mechanism associating the same with the master control bar H, the same as described above, for the door Illa. Likewise each of the selecting bars I81) and I80 is associated with a cam carrying bar similar to the cam bar 81a or bar I8a, together with the parts described above, which are associated with the cam bar 81a.

To review the operation of the complete system, with the master operating lever I2 in its closed position (Fig. 3), and with the selecting lever It in its uppermost position (Fig. 3), all of the doors are locked in closed position. The doors are locked by the lock bars 42 as well as by engagement of the rollers SI with the notches S6. If the operator now desires to operate all of the doors in unison, the door of the cabinet is opened, thus retracting rod II3 from locked relationship, with respect to the master operating lever. All of the selecting levers are now moved into engagement with the notches 2, whereby rollers 8I for each of the doors are engaged within the notches 98 of the master operating bar I'l, thus clutching or engaging each of the doors for operation. After thus changing the setting of the selecting lever I3 the operator grasps the master operating lever I2, and pulls this lever forward to the limit of its movement. The initial movement of the master operating bar I! causes movement of the thrust bars I3 without moving the doors, thus causing the cam members 43 to elevate the lock bars 42. Thereafter continued movement of bar I! causes all of the doors to be moved to open position. If now it is desired to move all of the doors to closed position, the master operating lever I2 is again swung back to closed position, illustrated in Fig. 3, and such closing movement is accompanied by closing movement of all of the doors, with movement of the lock bars 42 to final locked position by cams 43. If now the operator desires to move one door to open position, without affecting the position of the remainder of the doors, all of the selecting levers with the exception of the one selected for operation, are moved back into engagement with notches I, while the lever selected for operation, as for example lever I3a, is engaged or left in engagement with notch 2. Now upon operating the master operating lever I2, the one door Illa will be moved between open and closed positions, but the remainder of the doors will remain closed and locked. If desired the one door can be locked in open position, by moving the lever I3a to notch 3. When so positioned roller 8 i will be engaged with the associated notch 9'7, whereby the master control lever can be moved back to its initial position, while the door Illa remains open and locked. It is now impossible to unlock the door Mia, without first moving the master operating lever back to open position, followed by movement of the selected lever I3a back to its second notch. Similarly in place of selecting anyone door, for operation to the exclusion of the others, any two or in fact any number of the doors can be selected as a group, for operation to the exclusion of others. Likewise certain doors can be locked in open position as a group, while other doors are closed. It will be apparent from the above that full selective operation is afforded, and that by observing the positioning of the levers, an operator is fully appraised of the condition of the doors. He cannot improperly operate the apparatus, because the master control lever must be closed before the cabinet door can be properly shut. Although all of the mechanical operations are carried out positively without the use of supplemental motor means, a minimum amount of manual effort is required and with a negligible amount of noise.

I claim:

1. In a jail system for controlling the opening and closing of at least three jail doors, means operable from a central locality for applying opening and closing forces to said doors, and selecting mechanism adapted to be set to select for operation any one door independently of the other, any two doors as a group, or all of said doors simultaneously, said last means including a plurality of manually operable selecting members, one corresponding to each door, each memher being movable to any one of three operating positions, in' one of which the door corresponding to the same cannot be opened by said first named means, in the second of which the door corresponding to the same is engaged with respect to said first named means to enable opening and closing of the same, and in the third of which the door corresponding to the same is locked in open or closed positions, and mechanism associated with said selecting means whereby a door is locked in open position when the selecting member corresponding to the same is moved to said third oper ating position.

'2. In a jail lock system for controlling the opening and closing of at least three sliding jail doors, a master control bar slidably extending in a horizontal direction above the doors, means for operating said bar between limiting positions corresponding to open and closed positions of the door, disengageable with respect to said bar for transmitting motion from the bar to a jail door, whereby said means is engaged with respect to the bar the door corresponding to the same is moved between open and closed positions by movements of said bar, said means including parts in lost motion relationship, a lock bar disposed in, one side of each of the door frames, each lock bar being movable in a vertical direction between locked and unlocked positions with respect to the door, and means operated by one of said parts in lost motion relationship for moving said lock bars, whereby when a particular door is engaged with said master control bar for an opening movement, initial movement of said bar serves to move the lock bar to unlocked position, followed by opening of the door. I

3. In a jail lock system for controlling the opening and closing of at least three sliding jail doors, a main control bar slidably'extending in a horizontal direction above the doors, means for operating said control bar between two limiting positions corresponding to open and closed positions of the doors, a vertically extending lock bar disposed in a side frame member of each door, each lock bar being movable in a vertical direction between limitingpositions, in one of which a corresponding door is locked in closed position, and in the other of which the corresponding door is unlocked with respect to said bar,ra cam member associated with the upper end portion of each lock bar for moving the same between locked and unlocked positions, means forming a lost motion connection between said cam means and the corresponding door, and means for establishing clutching engagement between said cam member and said main control bar, whereby when said cam member is clutched with respect to said main control bar, movements of said bar in a direction to open the corresponding door, serve to initially move said cam member to move the lock barto unlocked position, after which the corresponding door is moved to open position.

4. In a jail lock system for the operation of sliding jail doors, an operating bar slidably extending in a horizontal direction above the door, said bar being movable between two limiting positions, a carriage disposed above the door and attached to the upper end of the door, a member having lost motion engagement with said carriage, a member adapted to be engaged or disengaged with respect to said control bar, whereby when said member is engaged with respect to said control bar, movements of the control bar are transmitted through said lost motion connection to said carriage, to move the door between opened and closed positions, a vertically extending lock bar disposed in one side of the door frame, said lock bar being movable between locked and unlocked positions with respect to the door, and cam means for moving said lock bar between locked and unlocked positions, within the limits of the lost motion connection between said member and said carriage.

5. In a jail system for controlling the opening and closing of sliding jail doors, a control bar slidably, extending in a horizontal direction above the door, said bar being movable in opposite direc tions between limiting positions corresponding to open and closed positions of the door, and means for disengageably clutching the door to said bar, said last means including a member operably connected to the door and movable laterally with re spect to said bar, shoulders on said bar with respect to which said member can be clutched when said member is moved in one direction with respect to the bar, and stationary shoulders with respect to which said member is locked when disengaged with respect to said bar, said shoulders being stationary and being disposed to engage said member only when said member is located in positions corresponding to either closed or open positions of the door.

6. In a jailsystem for controlling the opening and closing of sliding jail doors, a control bar slidably extending in a horizontal direction above the door, said bar being movable in opposite directions between limiting positions corresponding to open and closed positions of the door, and means for disengageably clutching the door to said bar, said last means including a member operably connected to the door and movable laterally with respect to said bar, shoulders on said bar with respect to which said member can be clutched when said member is moved in one direction with respect to the bar, and stationary shoulders with respect to which said member is locked when disengaged with respect to said bar, said shoulders being stationary and being disposed to engage said member only when said member is located in positions corresponding to either closed or open positions of the door, and means operated from a remote locality for moving said member in either engaged or disengaged relationship with respect to said bar.

7. In a jail lock system for controlling the lockmg of sliding jail doors, a vertical lock bar disposed in one side of the door frame, said bar being movable in a vertical direction between locked 40 and unlocked positions, a lug carried from the free edge of the door and adapted to be engaged bysaid lock bar, a cam member disposed above the door and movable in a horizontal direction, said member having spaced upper and lower cam surfaces inclined with respect to the horizontal, and means carried by the upper end of said lock bar for engaging both said camsurfaces, whereby movements of said cam member serve to positively lift and lower said lock bar'between unlocked and locked positions.

8. In a jail lock system for controlling the opening and closing of at least three jail doors, means for applying opening and closing forces to said doors, said means including a master operating lever, selecting mechanism for selecting the doors to be operated, said selecting mechanism including a plurality of selecting levers, there being one lever corresponding to each door, each of said selecting levers having three operating positions, in one of which the door corresponding to the same is not opened or closed by operation of'the master lever, and in the second of which the door corresponding to the same is engaged with respect to said operating means and can be opened or closed, and in the third of which the door corresponding to the same is locked in open position, a cabinet serving to enclose said master operating lever and said selecting levers, a door for said cabinet, and mechanism serving to prevent closure of said cabinet door unless said master control is in a position corresponding to' locked, open or closed positions of all of the jail doors.

9. In a jail system forcontrolling the opening and closing of at least three jail doors, means operable from a central locality for applying opening and closing forces to said doors, and selecting mechanism adapted to be set to select for operation any one door independently of the other, any two doors as a group, or all of said doors simultaneously, said last means including a plurality of manually operable selecting members, one corresponding to each do'or, each member being movable to any one of three operating positions, in one of which the door corresponding to the same cannot be opened by said first named means, in the second of which the door corresponding to the same is engaged with respect to said first named means to enable opening and closing of the same, and in the third of which the door corresponding to the same is locked in open position, mechanism associated with said selecting means whereby a door is locked in open position when the selecting member corresponding to the same is moved to said third operating position, and means serving to prevent shifting of a selecting lever to its third operating position when a door corresponding to the same is closed or being opened.

10. In a jail system for controlling the opening and closing of at least three jail doors, means operable from a central locality for applying opening and closing forces to said doors, and selecting mechanism adapted to be set to select for operation any one door independently of the other, any two doors as a group, or all of said doors simultaneously, said last means including a plurality of manually operable selecting members, one corresponding to each door, each member being movable to any one of three operating positions, in one of which the door corresponding to the same cannot be opened by said first named means, in the second of which the door corresponding to the same is engaged with respect to said first named means to enable opening and closing of the same, and in the third of which the door corresponding to the same is locked in open position, mechanism associated with said selecting meanswhereby a door is locked in open position when the selecting member corresponding to the same is moved to said third operating position, means serving to prevent shifting of a selecting lever to its third operating position when a door corresponding to the same is closed or being opened, and means serving to prevent shifting of a selecting lever from said second operating position to said first operating position when a door corresponding to the same is being closed but partly open,

11. In a jail lock system for the operation of sliding jail doors, an operating bar slidably extending in a horizontal direction above the door, said bar being movable between two limiting positions, a carriage disposed above the door and attached to the upper end of the door, a member having lost motion engagement with said carriage, a member adapted to be engaged or disengaged with respect to said control bar, whereby when said member is engaged with respect to said control bar, movements of the control bar are transmitted through said lost motion connection to said carriage, to move the door between opened and closed positions, a vertically extending lock bar disposed in one side of the door frame,rsaid lock bar being movable between locked and unlocked positions with respect to the door, and cam means for positively moving said lock bar between locked and unlocked positions, within the limits of the lost motion con-- nection between said member and said carriage whereby when the door is moved to closed position said bar is cammed to locked position during final closing movement of the door.

12. In a jail lock system for controlling the locking of sliding jail doors, a vertical lock bar disposed in one side of the door frame, said bar being movable in a vertical direction between locked and unlocked positions, a lug carried from the free edge of the door and adapted to be engaged by said lock bar, a cam member disposed above the door and movable in a horizontal direction, said member having spaced upper and lower cam surfaces inclined with respect to the horizontal, means forming a lost motion connection between the cam member and the upper edge of the door, means for applying forces to said door to open and close the same, and means carried by the upper end of said lock bar for engaging both said cam surfaces, whereby movements of said cam member serve to positively lift and lower said lock bar between unlocked and locked positions with the lock bar being cammed to locked position for final movement of the door to closed position.

HARRY J. RALSTON. 

